Tarot Archetypes in Everyday Life: Minor Arcana — The 3s
They say 3 is a charm! This week we’re explore the 3s in the Minor Arcana of the Tarot in my weekly series, Tarot Archetypes in Everyday Life.
The 3s in tarot mark the moment where the seed (Ace) and the choice (Two) begin to expand into something visible. They’re the first signs of momentum and growth that sprouts beyond the individual and reaches outward. In numerology, three is the number of creativity, expression, and synthesis, and that energy flows through every suit.
The Threes show us what happens when initial effort meets community and expression. A project moves from idea to draft, a relationship shifts from intimacy into shared experience, a decision is tested through real action. These cards remind us that growth isn’t always solitary and it often requires feedback or collaboration.
Think of the Threes as the first ripple spreading out from a stone thrown into the water. They carry the excitement (and sometimes the challenges) of what comes after the first step.
3 of Cups
As the Group Selfie
Meeting friends for dinner and staying until the restaurant closes
Toasting after signing the lease on your new shared apartment
Throwing a surprise birthday and watching the guest of honor glow
Meeting for book club and talking more about life than the book
Hosting a potluck where every dish tells a story
Attending a community event where you feel the buzz of belonging
3 of Wands
As the Open Door
Sending off an application and refreshing your inbox with excitement
Watching analytics climb and knowing your reach is expanding
Paying a deposit for a workshop or class that will shape your whole year
Checking the tracking number on your first bulk shipment of products
Mailing out thank you cards to clients as you prepare for the next round
Booking flights for a trip that’s months away and starting a Pinterest board of outfits
3 of Swords
As the Heartbreak
Discovering a partner’s betrayal through a message you weren’t meant to see
Getting rejected from a dream job after weeks of interviews
Finding out a friend was talking badly about you behind your back
Attending a funeral of someone you lost too soon
Sitting alone in a restaurant when the other person never shows up
Receiving news of a loved one that changes your world in an instant
3 of Pentacles
As the Team Project
Collaborating with coworkers on a project where each person’s skills shine
Building IKEA furniture with a partner and getting along seamlessly (unheard of)
Sitting down with business partners to divide tasks and set deadlines
Practicing with a band and hearing the harmony finally click
Hosting a potluck where everyone shares a dish and story from their culture
Meeting with a contractor to align on a renovation plan
Want to see the entire series? Click here.
New installments launch every Thursday at 7am ET until all 78 cards are done!
